Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 145 › Conversation 145-013

Kissinger & Camp David Operator on Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr. and Communications

Monday, October 2, 1972 · 4:59 PM–8:22 PM ET · Camp David Study Table · 16 sec

ParticipantsKissinger, Henry A.; Camp David OperatorConversation145-013 on Tape 145StartMonday, October 2, 1972 at 4:59 PMEndMonday, October 2, 1972 at 8:22 PMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 145-013 ↗

AI Summary

Henry A. Kissinger contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an urgent communication with Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. The brief exchange served as a logistical bridge to connect the National Security Advisor with the Chief of Naval Operations. No further policy discussions were recorded during this brief administrative request.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Yes, please.
Can you put Admiral Zumwalt on this phone?
Yes, sir.
I'll have to get him for you.

NARA Description

On October 2, 1972, Henry A. Kissinger and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:59 pm and 8:22 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 145-013 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 145-13

Date: October 2, 1972

Time: Unknown between 4:59 pm and 8:22 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table

Henry A. Kissinger talked with the Camp David operator.

[See Conversation No. 214-24]

            Request for a call to Adm. Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr.

Also recorded on October 2, 1972

  • 145-012 4:59 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:59 pm and 8:22 pm.
  • 145-014 4:59 PM · 23 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:59 pm and 8:22 pm.
  • 145-015 4:59 PM · 17 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:59 pm and 8:22 pm.
  • 145-016 4:59 PM · 11 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:59 pm and 8:22 pm.
  • 145-017 4:59 PM · 2 min — Henry A. Kissinger and Adm. Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:59 pm and 8:22 pm.
  • 214-024 5:03 PM · 12 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:03 pm and 8:30 pm.
  • 214-025 5:03 PM · 28 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:03 pm and 8:30 pm.
  • 214-026 5:03 PM · 18 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:03 pm and 8:30 pm.

All 44 conversations from October 2, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 145-013, October 2, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/145-013 (accessed October 12, 2026).